Jul 18, 2017 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
Updated: Tue Jul 18 16:24:26 UTC 2017 (20170718 1630Z Day 1 shapefile | 20170718 1630Z Day 1 KML)
Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table
Categorical Graphic
20170718 1630 UTC Day 1 Outlook Graphic
Day 1 Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
SLIGHT 89,567 5,533,156 St. Paul, MN...Sioux Falls, SD...Green Bay, WI...Rochester, MN...Sioux City, IA...
MARGINAL 278,049 10,373,483 Omaha, NE...Minneapolis, MN...Madison, WI...Des Moines, IA...Cedar Rapids, IA...
Probabilistic Tornado Graphic
20170718 1630 UTC Day 1 Tornado Probabilities Graphic
Probability of a tornado within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of EF2 - EF5 tornadoes within 25 miles of a point.
Day 1 Tornado Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
2 % 58,098 2,302,878 Rochester, MN...Eau Claire, WI...Burnsville, MN...Lakeville, MN...Apple Valley, MN...
Probabilistic Damaging Wind Graphic
20170718 1630 UTC Day 1 Damaging Wind Probabilities Graphic
Probability of damaging thunderstorm winds or wind gusts of 50 knots or higher within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% of greater probability of wind gusts 65 knots or greater within 25 miles of a point.
Day 1 Wind Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
15 % 89,065 5,501,132 St. Paul, MN...Sioux Falls, SD...Green Bay, WI...Rochester, MN...Sioux City, IA...
5 % 278,214 10,543,151 Omaha, NE...Minneapolis, MN...Madison, WI...Des Moines, IA...Cedar Rapids, IA...
Probabilistic Large Hail Graphic
20170718 1630 UTC Day 1 Large Hail Probabilities Graphic
Probability of hail 1" or larger within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of hail 2" or larger within 25 miles of a point.
Day 1 Hail Risk Area (sq. mi.) Area Pop. Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
5 % 367,292 15,962,682 Omaha, NE...Minneapolis, MN...St. Paul, MN...Madison, WI...Des Moines, IA...
   SPC AC 181624

   Day 1 Convective Outlook  
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   1124 AM CDT Tue Jul 18 2017

   Valid 181630Z - 191200Z

   ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM PARTS OF
   SD/NE INTO WI AND UPPER MI...

   ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF THE
   NORTHERN PLAINS AND UPPER MIDWEST...

   ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF
   VA/NC...

   ...SUMMARY...
   Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop this
   afternoon across the Upper Midwest with a few instances of locally
   damaging wind and hail the main threats. A few strong to severe
   storms are also possible over a portion of the central and northern
   Plains this afternoon and overnight.  Isolated marginally severe
   hail and winds will be possible for a few hours this afternoon near
   the Blue Ridge.

   ...Upper Midwest and Western Great Lakes Region...
   The primary band of mid-level westerlies extends from the northern
   Rockies across the northern Plains and into the Great Lakes region. 
   Scattered clusters of thunderstorms have affected this zone
   overnight, leaving considerable clouds and limited heating.  Two
   areas where stronger heating is likely to take place, along with
   associated destabilization and potentially increased severe risk
   will be over parts of WI into Upper MI ahead of the remnant
   convection south of Duluth, and along the boundary over northern SD.
   Both of these areas should see at least moderate CAPE values and
   sufficient shear aloft for organized storms later today.  Have
   expanded the risk areas farther east in WI and Lake Michigan to
   account for that concern, while the other area was well-contained in
   the existing SLGT risk.

   ...Northern High Plains...
   Isolated thunderstorms are likely to develop this evening over
   eastern MT, drifting into southwest ND and western SD overnight. 
   Forecast soundings suggest parameters favorable for rotating storms
   capable of hail and damaging winds.  The primary mitigating factors
   for a more organized severe event are the weak forcing mechanisms
   and the anticipated sparse coverage of storms.

   ...VA/NC...
   Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are expected to develop this
   afternoon beneath a weak upper trough centered over parts of NC/VA. 
   Thermodynamic profiles are marginally favorable for brief hail and
   gusty winds in the stronger cells.  However, near-calm winds through
   much of the troposphere will lead to disorganized and pulse
   convective modes.

   ..Hart/Cohen.. 07/18/2017

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